Beet-harvesting machine.



PATENTED JULY 26, 1904.

L. L. WILSON.

BEET HARVESTING MACHINE.

APPLIGATIGH FILED NOV. 17, 1902.

2 SHEETS-SHBET 1.

N0 MODEL.

No. 766,126. PATENTED JULY 26, 1904. L. L. WILSON.

BEET HARVESTING MACHINE.

APPLIOATIOH FILED NOV. 17, 1902.

N0 MODEL. 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Fig. 6'. 0/1 7151i 2 7TOR/VE UNITED STATES Patented July 26, 1904.

LEVI L. \VILSON, OF VASSAR, MlCHIGAN.

BEET-HARVESTI NG MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 766,126, dated July 26,1904.

Application filed November 17, 1902. Serial No. 131,755. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, LEVI L. \VILsoN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Vassar, in the county of Tuscola and State of Michigan, haveinvented a new and useful lmprove ment in Beet-Digging Machines, ofwhich the following is a specification.

This invention has reference to machines for uprooting vegetables, andis designed more particularly for digging beets, the machine beingconstructed on the general lines of a plow provided with a colteradapted to cut through the soil and formed with devices acting beneaththe surface of the soil to positively raise the beets from the ground asthe plow is drawn through the field.

The invention consists, mainly, in combination with means for raising orlifting the beets, of means for filling in the earth under the raisedbeets, so that they will be prevented from settling back after thepassage of the machine.

The invention also consists in various improvements directed moreparticularly to the form of the colter and the devices for raising thebeets, having in view simplicity of construction, effectiveness inoperation, and variations in the height to which the beet is raised tomeet the varying conditions encountered in practice.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improvedmachine. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of parts of the same separated tomore clearly show their construction. Fig. 3 is a perspective view ofthe device for filling in the soil under the raised beets. Fig. i is aside elevation of the machine as viewed from the side opposite thatshown in Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a horizontal sectional plan view on the linea a of the preceding figure. Fig. 6 is a vertical transverse sectionalelevation on the line I) 7) of Fig. 4.

In the accompanying drawings, 1 represents a plow-beam provided withhandles 2, which parts may be of the usual and well-known construction.

3 represents a colter in the form of a thin fiat plate, which Idesignate the land-side colter, the function of which is to cut throughthe soil and loosen the soil adjacent to the beets to be raised. Thiscolter has its front edge sloping forward and downward, with its upperportion perpendicular, as at 4, and secured firmly to the side of thebeam by bolt 5 or other suitable means and its lower portion, 6, thatentering the ground, inclined laterally furrowward, so that it willextend parallel with the sloping side of the beet, whereby the liftingdevices presently to be described may be presented to the beet in themost favorable and effective position for action. To the base or loweredge of the colter are firmly attached, by means of bolts 7, abase-plate 8 on the land side and a base-plate 9 on the furrow side. Attheir front ends these base-plates extend beyond the colter and givesupport to a plow-point 10, formed with an upper inclined face, avertical central rib 12 on its rear under side, which extends betweenthe forward ends of the base-plates and which is firmly secured betweenthem by bolts 13, and vertical shoulders 15 about midway between theends of the point, which shoulders abut against the front ends of thebase-plates, as shown in Fig. 1.

Extending at the furrow side of the colter is a rod 15, the function ofwhich is to raise the beets, and for convenience of description 1 termthis the lifting-rod. It has its front end extended downward, forming ashoulder 16, and its extremity is flattened and secured to thebase-plate 9, near the forward end of the same, by the bolt 7 in suchmanner that it will have a limited pivotal adjustment on this bolt forthe purpose presently to be described.

The shoulder 16 stands at the rear end of the plow-point, and from thispoint the rod extends rearward and at an outward and upward inclination,forming a continuation of the upper inclined face of the point, so thatwhen the point is presented beneath the beet and advanced the rod willimpinge against the side of the beet, and owing to its upward andoutward inclination it will maintain contact with the same as it forcesthe beet gradually upward, the inclination or slope of the lower portionof the colter admitting of the presentation of the point and rod in themost favorable position for effective action. The rod extends at anupward inclination a suflicient distance to raise the beets to or nearthe surface, which in the present instance is at about the rear edge ofthe colter, and from this point the rod is deflected and extendshorizontally and longitudinally, as at 17, forming an extension whosefunction is to hold the beets raised while the soil is being filled inunder them by means presently to be described.

The rear end of the lifting-rod is given sup- 4 port by means of a brace18. connected at its lower end with the rear extended end of thebase-plate 9 by a bolt 18*, from which point it extends upwardvertically to the liftingrod, to which it is connected by a bolt 19,from which point the brace is continued rearwardly,

upwardly, and outwardly, forming an extension 20, which for convenienceof description I term a clearing-rod, lying above and outward of theextension 17 of the lifting-rod and having the function, when properlyadjusted, of deflecting or pushing the raised beets to one side and ofassisting in holding them raised while the soil is being filled in underthem. a

The connection of the lower end of the brace 18 with the rear end of thebase-plate 9 is such that the brace may be adjusted vertically for thepurpose of giving the lifting-rod a greater or less degree ofinclination to vary the height to which the beet will be raised, whetherjust at the surface of the soil or well on top of the same. Thisadjustment may be conveniently effected by providing the lower end ofthe brace or the end of the base-plate 9 with a number of holes 21, oneabove the other, to receive the fastening-bolt. As a result of thisconstruction the inclination of the lifting-rod may be increased ordiminished without varying the inclination of the extension 20 of thebrace. The connection of this brace with the lifting-rod is adjustablein a direction longitudinally of the same, so as to vary the inclinationof the clearing-rod simultaneously with the variation of the inclinationof the lifting-rod, which is eflected by providing the lifting-rod witha number of holes 22 at intervals on its length, the change of the bolt19 from one to the other of these holes acting to shift both thelifting-rod and brace on their respective fastening-bolts 7 and 18 andin this manner changing both the inclination of the lifting-rod and theextension 20 of the brace. Also the spread of the parts or theirdistance from the land-side colter may be varied by providing a wedge23, Fig. 2, which is set in between the lower end of the brace and thebase-plate, to which it is connected. These various adjustments of theparts are found desirable in the practical operation of the machine. Forinstance, if it is desired to leave the beets standing loosely in thenarrow ridge of the loosened soil, well 5 up in sight, but protectedfrom drying or freezing, the parts are adjusted with the lifting-rod lowand the clearing-rod close to it, which is accomplished by lowering thebrace on the base-plate and connecting it with the clearing-rod nearerthe rear end of the latter. If, on the other hand, it is desired toraise and leave the beets well on top of the ground and exposed, thelifting-rod is raised by setting the brace higher up on the base-plate,and the parts are given more spread by the insertion of a wedge 22.

The filling in of the earth under the raised beets, as before alludedto, is effected bya device which I designate a filling-colter, theaction of which is to crowd or push the soil into the cavity or openingleft under the raised beets while they are held up by the lifting-rod.To effect this result, I prefer to adopt the construction shown, which Ihave found to answer admirably the purpose in view.

Referring particularly to Figs. 3, 4, and 5, it will be seen that thisdevice comprises a fiat plate 23, extending vertically at its inner end,as at 23 where it is secured between the rear extended ends of thebase-plates by a bolt 24, and from this point the plate is curvedlandward, forming a horizontal portion 25, whence it extends upward andrearward, the rear edge of the upwardly-extending portion standingnearer to the plane of the colter than the front edge, the effect ofwhich is to form surface 26, diverging from its rear edge forward, whichsurface as the machine advances forces the soil laterally toward andinto the cavity left by the raised beets. This colter acts beneath thesoil, the front edge cutting through the soil, while the inclined faceacts against the loosened soil and forces it or crowds it to the side,filling up the cavity under the raised beets and effectually preventingthem from settling back after the passage of the machine.

Having described my invention, what I claim is 1. In a beet-diggingmachine, the combination with means for lifting the beets, of meansacting independently of the lifting means for positively filling in thesoil under the raised beets.

2. In a beet-digging machine the combination with means-for lifting thebeets, of means in the rear of the lifting means and acting whollyindependently thereof for positively crowding the soil under the raisedbeets.

3. In a beet-digging machine the combination with means for lifting thebeets, of means for temporarily holding them raised, and means actingindependently of the lifting means for positively filling in the soilunder the beets while being held temporarily.

4. Ina beet-digging machine the combina IIO tion with means for liftingthe beets, of means acting at the side of the raised beets andindependently of the lifting means for positively pushing the soillaterally beneath the raised beets.

In a beet-digging machine the combination with means for lifting thebeets, of means acting independently of the lifting means at the sideand in the rear of the raised beets for positively pushing the soillaterally beneath them.

6. In a beet-digging machine, the combination with means for lifting thebeets, of a filling-colter disposed on the inner side of the liftingmeans and provided with an active surface sloping forward and outwardwith reference to the liftingmeans; whereby the colter will act themachine advances, to push the soil beneath the beets.

T. Ina beet-digging machine, the combination with a land-side colter, oflifting devices connected therewith, and a filling-colter also connectedwith the land-side colter at or near its base, and formed with an activesurface disposed with reference to the lifting means, to push the dirtunder the raised beets.

S. In a beet-digging machine, the combination with a land-side colter,of base-plates attached to its lower edge, lifting devices sustained bythe base-plates, and a filling-colter also sustained by the base-platesand in rear of the landside colter.

9. In a beet-digging machine, and in combination with a land-side colterand lifting devices, a filling-colter connected near the base of theland-side colter, and comprisingaplate extending upward and rearwardly.

10. In a beet-digging machine and in combination with a land-side colterand lifting devices, a filling-colter comprising a plate fixed at itsinner end near the base of the colter and extending thence outward,upward and rearwardl y with its front upwardly-extending edge turneddiagonally from the plane of the colter land side.

11. In a beet-digging machine, the combination with the beam, of aland-side colter having its lower portion inclined laterally furrowwardwith respect to the beam, so that when the colter enters the ground itwill lie closely to and parallel with the inclined side of thebeet-root, and beet-lifting devices at the lower end of the inclinedportion of the colter on the furrow side, said beet-lifting devicesacting independently of the colter to raise the beet.

12. In a beet-digging machine the combination of means for lifting thebeets and forcing them laterally and means acting independently of thelifting means for filling dirt laterally in the direction of movement ofthe beets inward beneath the raised beets.

13. In a beet-digging machine the combination of means for lifting thebeets and forcing them laterally and means in rear of the direction oflateral movement of the beets for positively filling dirt beneath thelatter.

14. In a beet-digging machine the combination of means for lifting thebeets and forcing them furrowward and means disposed on the land side ofthe machine for positively filling dirt beneath the raised beets.

15. In a beet-digging machine the combination of means disposed on oneside of the machine for lifting the beets and means on the opposite sideof the machine acting independently of the lifting means for fillingdirt beneath the raised beets.

16. In a beet-digging machine the combination with means for lifting thebeets, of independently-acting means for filling dirt beneath the raisedbeets, said two means being disposed relatively to each other to act onthe same side of the row of beets being harvested.

17. In a beet-digging machine the combination of means for lifting thebeets and a device disposed wholly in rear of the lifting means forfilling soil beneath the raised beets.

18. In a beet-digging machine the combination of a colter, a base-plateon its lower end, a plow-point connected with the forward end of thebase-plate with its upper face inclined upwardly and rearwardly, and alifting-rod inclined upwardly and rearwardly and forming a continuationof the upper face of the plow point, said rod having its front endturned downwardly to form a shoulder seated behind the plow-point andsecured to the baseplate.

19. In abeet-digging machine,the combination with a land-side colter, ofa beet-lifting member disposed on one side thereof and a device upon theopposite side of the colter for filling dirt beneath the raised beets.

20. In a beet-digging machine the combination with a land-side colter,of a beet-lifting member carried on one side thereof and afilling-colter on the other side of the land-side colter.

21. In a beet-digging machine,the combination with a landside-colter, ofbeet-lifting means carried on one side thereof and a device on theopposite side of the colter for filling dirt beneath the raised beets.

22. In a beet-digging machine,the combination with a land-side colter ofbeet-lifting means upon the furrow side thereof and means on the landside of the colter for filling dirt beneath the raised beets.

23. In a beet-digging machine and in combination with a beam, aland-side colter, a lifting-rod attached at its front to the base of thecolter near its forward end, an upright brace connected at its lower endto the base of the colter, and means for connecting the upper. end ofthe brace with the lifting-rod at different points in the length of thelatter.

2&. In a beet-digging machine the combinaand from the colter.

26. In a beet-digging machine, the combination with the beam, ofaland-side colter, a lifting-rod extending at the side of the sameupwardly and rearwardly, a brace connected with the base of the colterand adjustable bodily Vertically, means for connecting said brace atdifferent points in the length of the liftingrod, and an extension onthe brace extending outwardly.

27. In a beet-digging machine the combinationwith the beam, of aland-side colter, a lifting-rod extending at the side of the sameupwardly, rearwardly outwardly and finally in a horizontal directionlongitudinally, and a clearing-rod extending above the longitudinalportion of the lifting-rod.

28. In a beet-digging machine and in combination with the beam, aland-sidecOlter, a

lifting-rod extending at the sideof thesame upwardly and rearwardly, aclearing-rod extending rearwardly beyond the colter and means foradjusting said clearing-'rodand lifting-rod to and from the colter.

29. In a beet-digging machine, the combination with a land-side colter,of a lifting-rod extending upwardly and rearwardly and a clearing-rodextending outwardly to deflect the raised beet.

30. In a beet-digging machine, the combination Witha land-side colter,of a lifting-rod ex tending rearwardly, upwardly and finally in ahorizontal direction longitudinally, and a clearing-rod extending abovethe horizontal portion of the lifting-rod, outwardly and rear- Wardly.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

LEVI L. WILSON.

Witnesses:

M. C. BRAINERD, R. WILSON.

